Starting positioning mechanism



April 20, 1954 D. A. ARMSTRONG NDL APril 20, 1954 D, A. ARMSTRONG ETAL 2,675,794

STARTING POSITIONING MECHAN-ISM Filed Sept. 23, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIEE RONG ET AL CHANIS April 2o, v1954 Patented Apr. 20, 1954 i' ITED STATES PATNT OFFICE STARTING POSITIONING MECHANISM Application September 23, 1949, Serial No. 117,365

(Cl. 12S-136) zo claims. l

rlhis invention relates to an outboard motor and particularly to means for quickly placing certain parts ci said motor in operative position.

It has been the universal custom heretofore upon starting an outboard motor to open a vent means for admitting air to the gasoline tank and to adjust a valve to open the fuel line to the carburetor or motor. After these actions are performed the spark adjusting lever is moved to starting position and the motor is cranked.

It is an object of this invention to provide means whereby when the motor is placed in starting position as when the spark adjusting lever is moved to starting 4position the vent passage in the gasoline tank will be opened and the fuel line from the gasoline tank to the motor will be opened as a result oi placing said lever in starting position so that the operator does not have to open a vent passage or open a fuel control valve.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an outboard motor structure having a gasoline tank, a passage leading from said gasoline tank through which gasoline is conveyed to the motor, a vent passage for admitting air to said tank, a spark adjusting lever and automatically acting means for opening said passages to permit air to enter said gasoline tank and to permit gasoline to pass to said motor when said lever is placed in starting or running position.

It is another object of the invention to provide an outboard motor structure including a gasoline tank, a vent passage for admitting air to said tank, a passage leading from said tank for conducting iuel to said motor, a spark adjusting lever, and means operated by movement of said spark adjusting lever to stop position for closing said passages.

it is also an object of this invention to provide such a structure as set forth in the preceding paragraph, together with means for holding said spark adjusting lever in stop position, which latter means is preferably in the form of a readily engage-able and disengageable latch.

lt is more specically an object of the invention to provide an outboard motor structure comprising a gasoline tank, a member secured to said tank and having a passage through which gasoline or fuel iiows from said tank to said motor, said member having a .second passage forming a vent passage through which air can enter said tank, a member preferably in the form -of a plunger movable in said iirst mentioned member and having means carried thereby for'closing and opening said passages, a spark adjusting lever, said .member being moved inone direction by la spring ior opening said passages and being movable in the opposite direction by a member carried by said spark adjusting lever for closing said passages.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters rei-er to similar parts throughout the several views,` and in which:

Fig. l is a plan View showing certain parts of an outboard motor including the spark adjusting lever, some parts being broken away and other parts being shown in horizontal section;

l'ig. 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section oi a portion of agasoline tank and parts carried thereby;

Fig. 3 is a partial view similar to Fig. 2 showing some par-ts in diierent positions;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing some of the parts in different positions;

Fig. 5 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in side elevation showing a spark adjusting lever vand a latch carried thereby; and

Fig. 6 is a bottom lplan View of the device shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, certain. parts of an outboard motor are shown comprising the gasoline tank lil, the fly wheel Il, the drive shaft l2 which has secured thereon at its upper end a nut I3 under which is disposed a washer It. A spark adjusting lever lli is shown having a handle |5a, which lever is oscillatable about the center oi? shaft l2.

In accordance with the present invention a member 2t is provided, the same having a ilange 2te which fits against and is secured to the bottom plate lila oi the gasoline tank l0. Plate lila has a raised portion or boss llb having an aperture or opening itc therethrough having a oounterbore lild. Member 2t has a cylindrical portion or iiange 2t?) which fits in counterbore Nid. A screen or filter not shown will preferably be carried in 'member 2c within the iiange 2th. Member it has a chamber Zc below opening lc from which leads a passage or conduit 29d. Passage Zd is surrounded by a valve seat lie and a passage Etf leads from valve seat 20e to and through one end ci member Member 2t has a downwardly extending hub or boss 2tlg in which a lpassage 20h is formed which communicates with passage Etf. Member 2c has another downwardly extending hub or portion 229i which is provided with a passage extend-ing centrally therethrough and which communicates with pa.-

sage 2f. Passage 2071, is interiorly threaded for the attachment of a coupling and conduit to convey gasoline to the carburetor 23. The portion 20i is threaded at its lower end for the attachment of any desired coupling. Passage 237' communicates with the atmosphere. A passage 237e leads upwardly from passage 20j and communicates at its upper end with a tube or conduit 2I which extends across tank I and has its upper end in engagement with a cap 22 having a cylindrical body extending through an opening in the top plate Ib of tank I9 and having a flange 22a engaging the inner side of plate Ilb to which it will be connected in any suitable manner, as by soldering or Welding. Member 22 has a cylindrical chamber therein from which extends a conical chamber 22h. IThe upper end of tube 2l is closed and while this might be done in any suitable manner, in practice it has been done by dipping said end in solder. The upper end of tube 2l is in substantial engagement with the wall of chamber 22h, said tube being secured in any suitable manner in bottom plate Ia. Tube 2| is provided with a plurality of circumerentially spaced holes 2Ia which open into the cylindrical chamber within member 22. A member 2d in the form of a cylindrical plunger is disposed in passage 20f, the same having thereon adjacent one end a valve 24a which cooperates with valve seat 23e. A circular packing ring 25 is carried in an annular groove in plunger 24 spaced from valve 24a. Said ring 25 closely engages the wall or" passage 20j. Another annular packing ring 23 is carried by plunger 24 some distance from ring 25, said plunger being somewhat reduced in diameter .between said rings. Plunger 24 has an enlarged portion tting an enlarged portion of passage 23j and a conical valve portion 24h is formed on plunger 24 cooperating with a frusto-conical seat 23m in passage 23j. Another annular packing ring 2 is carried in a groove in plunger 2t spaced some distance from portion Zlib so that portion 2th is between rings 2S and 2'1. It will be seen that when member 24 is in the position shown in Fig. 2 that passage 20d is closed and that passages 237 and 23k are closed so that there is no communication therebetween. When the member 213 is in the position shown in Fig. 3, it Will be seen that passage 20d is open and gasoline or fuel can thus pass through passage 22d and into passage Zh. Also, as shown in Fig. 3, passages 237e and 207' are in communication through passage 23j. Plunger 24 fits in and is guided in a bore in a bracket 28 secured by suitable screws 32 to a portion of the motor frame. As shown in Fig. 1, bracket 28 is of angular form. Plunger 24 has thereon a washer or collar 29 bearing against a pin 30 and a compression coiled spring 3l surrounds plunger 24, the same bearing at one end against washer 29 and at its other end against one end of member 20.

The spark adjusting lever I has secured to its underside a plate-like member 33, which member may be secured in any suitable manner, as by screws or bolts St and 35. Member 33 is provided with an arcuate slot 33a through which screw 35 passes and member 33 is oscillatable about screw 34 for the purposes of properly positioning the same. Member 33 has a downwardly extending portion at one end to which is secured a resilient plate 36. Plate 36 can be secured in any suitable manner, as by the rivets 3l. Plate 36 is positioned so that in the oscillation of lever I 5 it will in the desired position engage the end of plunger 24, as shown in Fig. 2.

A pin 38 projects from the bottom of gasoline tank l and is adapted to :be engaged by the hook portion 39a of a latch lever 39 which is pivotally secured to spark adjusting lever I5 by a headed screw d which overlles a Washer 413. A torsion wire spring I surrounds screw di) and has one end engaging lever I5 and its other end engaging latch 39, said spring tending to swing latch 39 in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 6. Latch 39 has an arm extending approximately longitudinally of lever i5 which is provided with a laterally extending projection 33h which has a downwardly turned end. Said arm portion of latch 33 extends under a plate 42 disposed in a recess |519 formed in lever I5, which plate is se- -cured by a headed screw 43 to the handle portion ia of lever I5. A portion d8 of the hood which surrounds the gasoline tank and upper portion of the motor is shown.

In operation when the motor is in stop position the plunger 2li will occupy the position shown in Fig. 2. At this time the spark adjusting lever i5 has been swung clockwise to its extreme or stop position, as shown in Fig. 1, and latch 39 is engaged with pin 38. As is well known in the art, when the spark lever is swung to stop position a portion of the magneto is moved to retard the spark to a point at Which the motor cannot be started. The latch and pin are provided to prevent lever i being moved by someone contacting it or brushing against it. The member 33 has pushed plunger 23 to its inward position and the portion 23a thereof is now engaged with seat 23e so that passage 23h is closed. No fuel can now pass from chamber 23e into passage 23h and to the carburetor. With lever I5 in stop position 'therefore the motor cannot be started. 'Ihe ring 26 as well as portion 24h close passage 23j so that communication between passages 23k and 20:1' is cut 0E. It is not necessary that the tapered portion 2lb engage the tapered portion 20m as the ring 23 will prevent communication between passages 20k and 203i. The vent opening to the tank i3 through tube 2l is thus closed. Spring 3l is at this time compressed. As soon as spark adjusting lever l5 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction, as when it is moved to starting position, spring 3i will expand and move plunger 24 to the position shown in Fig. 3. At this time passage d is open and fuel can pass from chamber 23e through passage 23d into passage 23h and thence to the carburetor 23. Also air can pass into passage 237' and through passage Zf and passage Zilk to the tube 2l so that it can enter the tank It through the holes 2id. The fuel line and the vent passage for the gasoline tank are thus automatically opened by the spring 3i and the attention of the operator is not necessary for such opening. When spark lever I5 therefore is in starting position the fuel and vent lines are open and the spark is advanced to a point where the motor can be started. The number of operations Which the operator must make are thus reduced. It is more or less a common thing for the operator to forget to open the vent passage or the fuel valve and this results in starting or running trouble. With the present structure the number of operations or things to do upon starting are considerably reduced. The operator need only move the spark adjusting lever and then crank the motor. The latch 39 can be readily disengaged by the operator pressing with his thumb on the portion 39h of latch 33. This can Vbe easily done as he is grasping handle I5a with one hand and can use the thumb of said hand.

When lever i is moved to stop position, latch 39 automatically engages pin 38.

From the above description it will be seen that We have invented a simple, eiicient and highly useful structure for an outboard motor. The invention, as stated, materially reduces the number of things which the operator must do upon starting and stopping the motor. When he swings the spark adjusting lever 'to start position the vent passage to the tank and the valve controlling the fuel line are automatically opened and when he moves the spark adjusting lever to stop position he simultaneously closes the fuel control valve and closes the air vent to the gasoline tank. The invention has been amply demonstrated in actual practice, found to be very 'successful and efficient and Will soon be in commercial production.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, Without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and dened in the appended claims.

W hat is claimed is:

i. An outboard motor structure having in combination, a gasoline tank, a vent passage for admitting air to said tank, a conduit for conducting gasoline from said tank to said motor, and a member outside of said tank for substantially simultaneously opening said vent passage and opening said conduit to permit discharge of gasoline from said tank.

2. An outboard motor structure having in combination, a gasoline tank, a vent passage for admitting air to said tank, a second passage for conducting gasoline from said tank to said motor, a spark adjusting lever movable to starting and stop positions, and means actuated upon movement of said spark adjusting lever to starting position for opening said vent passage and opening said second passage to permit discharge of gasoline from said tank to said motor.

3. An outboard motor structure having in combination, a gasoline tank, a vent passage for admitting air to said tank, a second passage for conducting gasoline from said tank to said motor, a spark adjusting lever, and means operated upon movement of said lever to stop position for closing both of said passages.

4l. The structure set forth in claim 3, and means for holding said spark adjusting lever in stop position.

5. An outboard motor structure having in combination, a gasoline tank, a passage for conducting gasoline from said tank to said motor, a valve for opening and closing said passage, a spark adjusting lever movable to stop and starting positions, and automatically acting means for moving said valve to open said passage when said lever is moved to starting position.

The structure set forth in claim 5, a vent passage tor admitting air to said tank, said last mentioned means acting to open said passage when said lever is moved to starting position.

'7. Ln outboard motor structure having in combination, a gasoline tank, a passage for conducting gasoline from said tank to said motor, a valve for opening and closing said passage, a spark adjusting lever movable to stop and starting positions, and means for moving said valve to close said passage when said lever is moved to stop position.

8. The structure set forth in Vclaim 7, a vent passage for admitting air to said tank, and means vfor closing said vent passage when said lever is moved to stop position.

9. An outboard motor structure having in combination, a gasoline tank, a vent passage for admitting air to said tank, a spark adjusting lever movable to stop and starting positions, and means for opening said vent passage when said lever is moved to starting position.

10. An outboard motor structure having in combination, a gasoline tank, a vent passage for admitting air to said tank, a spark adjusting lever movable to stop and starting positions, and means for closing said vent passage when said lever is moved to stop position.

11. An outboard motor structure having in combination, a gasoline tank, a vent passage for admitting air to said tank, a conduit for conducting gasoline from said tank to said motor, a

valve for controlling said conduit, a member fork moving said valve, means carried by said member for closing said vent passage, a spark adjusting lever movable to stop and starting positions, and means carried by said spark adjusting lever for moving said member to close said valve and close said vent passage when said lever is moved to stop position.

12. An outboard motor structure having in combination, a gasoline tank, a vent passage for admitting air to said tank, a conduit for conducting gasoline from said tank to said motor, a valve for controlling said conduit, a member for moving said valve, means carried by said member for closing said vent passage, a spark adjusting lever movable to stop and starting positions, and means for moving said member to open said valve and open said vent passage when said spark adjusting lever is moved to starting position,

13. An outboard motor structure having in combination, a gasoline tank, a member secured to said tank and having therein a passage for gasoline to pass from said tank, a valve seat about said passage, a valve cooperating with said seat, said member having a second passage for air to enter said tank, a plunger movable in said member, a compression coiled spring disposed about said plunger, a valve carried by said plunger cooperating with said valve seat, and means carried by said plunger for closing said second passage whereby said spring acting on said plunger keeps said passages in open position.

14. The structure set forth in claim 13, and means for moving said plunger to close said Valve and close said second passage when said motor is in stop position.

15. The structure set forth in claim 13, and means for moving said plunger to open said valve and to open said second passage when said motor is placed in starting position.

16. The structure set forth in claim 13, a spark adjusting means movable to stop and starting positions, and means on said lever for engaging said plunger to close said valve and close said passage when said lever is moved to stop position.

17. The structure set forth in claim 13, a, spark adjusting means movable to stop and starting positions, and a spring for moving said plunger to open said valve and to open said passage when said spark adjusting means is moved to starting position.

18. An outboard motor structure having in combination, a gasoline tank, a venting means for said tank for permitting the entry of air thereto, a conduit for conducting gasoline from said tank, a control means for said conduit manually movable to positions for starting and stopping said motor, and a member outside of said tank for simultaneously operating said venting means to vent said tank and operating said control means to permit the discharge of gasoline from said tank when said control means is moved to position for starting said motor.

19. An outboard motor structure having in combination, a gasoline tank, a vent passage for admitting air to said tank, a second passage for conducting gasoline from said tank, a control means for said second passage, and a member outside of said tank manually movable to a position to stop said motor and close both of said passages.

20. An outboard motor structure having in combination, a gasoline tank, a vent passage for admitting air to said tank, a second passage leading from said tank to supply fuel to said motor, means for closing said vent passage, means for closing said second passage, and a movable member outside of said tank movable to positions to stop said motor and for actuating both of said means for closing both of said passages.

References Cited in the le 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,073,676 Goodspeed Sept. 23, 1913 1,150,332 Boyer Aug. 17, 1915 1,372,062 Carruth Mar. 22, 1921 1,474,556 Sacket Nov. 20, 1923 1,633,062 Bens June 21, 1927 1,662,614 Mandolini Mar. 13, 1928 

